Whether you are just getting started with your new business development plans or whether your are attempting to grow a business that has been in place for some time, it is easy to waste your time on less effective marketing. Many times, business owners will try to make a big thrust by running a large ad in a local newspaper or a television commercial during the most expensive time slot. While these will probably be seen, they most likely won't have much influence because there is often no repetition. The business owner runs them once (or a few times) and then simply stops with the conclusion that advertising doesn't work. In order to achieve results from any form of advertising, you need repetition of your message. This has always been true, but it's even more important with the number of marketing messages that today's consumers are presented each day.
If you're set to embark on an advertising campaign for your business, set up your marketing foundation first by using the basic promotion building blocks discussed as follows for your business development plans. Then grow your business from this foundation.
Network " a lot of networking functions can be located around most any city or town. Since you may find you are short on time when your business is open, you may need to concentrate on the functions that run after your business hours. In a lot of cases, these networking functions are offered at no cost, consequently your major expenditure is your time. Participation in these networking functions gives one considerable opportunity to converse with potential prospects without the distractions one has to face during regular business hours. All that is required to be effective is a small number of business cards, a charming smile and a friendly attitude.
Business cards " Obviously, you'll need them for networking and sales calls. Don't forget all the other ways you can distribute them. Give your cards out to everyone you come in contact with and give more than one out at a time. Business cards are one of the basic building blocks for promoting and generating exposure for your business. (copy the following link in your browser address bar for a story on how one business claims business cards were their most important advertising asset: http://www.galleriaventures.com/articles/how_important_are_your_business_cards.htm)
Direct mail " Sending an advertisement to a list of 50,000 is NOT required to be effective with direct mail advertising. Developing a consistent and repeatable message is more important for success. You could create 1,000 postcards with your advertisement printed on them. Then put on the required postage and address labels yourself. Mail out 50 or 100 of your postcard advertisement to the identical targeted listing each week. As you start receiving some return in increased sales from this, you can commence to increase the size of your mailing listing. You have just created a direct mail marketing campaign with carefully controlled costs which will not increase until you see a return from the advertisement investment.
Internet website " These days, any business that does not have an internet website, is just making a incorrect decision. An internet website offers one of the lowest cost ways to promote what they offer. Internet websites aren't just for e-commerce and they are not just for big corporations. The internet is used by ordinary people to find and compare what businesses offer. If you do not have one, you are not even being considered. Fancy bells and whistles, are not required. As with your business cards and postcards, what is required is a consistent, easy to understand message. You can win business by being easy to find and presenting an easy to understand offer to viewers of your website.
Take these four building blocks in your business development plans for marketing your business and create a strong marketing foundation. You do not even have to do all these at once, but you ought to do these before you spend your time and money on things like search engine optimization, television and radio advertising, or billboards. Start growing your business from a strong marketing foundation and then you can add more to your marketing campaign. - 15634
If you're set to embark on an advertising campaign for your business, set up your marketing foundation first by using the basic promotion building blocks discussed as follows for your business development plans. Then grow your business from this foundation.
Network " a lot of networking functions can be located around most any city or town. Since you may find you are short on time when your business is open, you may need to concentrate on the functions that run after your business hours. In a lot of cases, these networking functions are offered at no cost, consequently your major expenditure is your time. Participation in these networking functions gives one considerable opportunity to converse with potential prospects without the distractions one has to face during regular business hours. All that is required to be effective is a small number of business cards, a charming smile and a friendly attitude.
Business cards " Obviously, you'll need them for networking and sales calls. Don't forget all the other ways you can distribute them. Give your cards out to everyone you come in contact with and give more than one out at a time. Business cards are one of the basic building blocks for promoting and generating exposure for your business. (copy the following link in your browser address bar for a story on how one business claims business cards were their most important advertising asset: http://www.galleriaventures.com/articles/how_important_are_your_business_cards.htm)
Direct mail " Sending an advertisement to a list of 50,000 is NOT required to be effective with direct mail advertising. Developing a consistent and repeatable message is more important for success. You could create 1,000 postcards with your advertisement printed on them. Then put on the required postage and address labels yourself. Mail out 50 or 100 of your postcard advertisement to the identical targeted listing each week. As you start receiving some return in increased sales from this, you can commence to increase the size of your mailing listing. You have just created a direct mail marketing campaign with carefully controlled costs which will not increase until you see a return from the advertisement investment.
Internet website " These days, any business that does not have an internet website, is just making a incorrect decision. An internet website offers one of the lowest cost ways to promote what they offer. Internet websites aren't just for e-commerce and they are not just for big corporations. The internet is used by ordinary people to find and compare what businesses offer. If you do not have one, you are not even being considered. Fancy bells and whistles, are not required. As with your business cards and postcards, what is required is a consistent, easy to understand message. You can win business by being easy to find and presenting an easy to understand offer to viewers of your website.
Take these four building blocks in your business development plans for marketing your business and create a strong marketing foundation. You do not even have to do all these at once, but you ought to do these before you spend your time and money on things like search engine optimization, television and radio advertising, or billboards. Start growing your business from a strong marketing foundation and then you can add more to your marketing campaign. - 15634
About the Author:
A discounted package of services to help you create a marketing foundation for your business development plans by designing and printing business cards, postcards, and websites. BG Curtis is a business owner of Galleria Ventures.
